Slug casting machine



R H TURNER 2,625,259

SLUG CASTING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet l a 7 INVENTOR BY WATTORNEYJ Jan. 13, 1953 Flled Aug 2, 1945 Jan. 13, 1953 R. H. TURNER SLUG CASTING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 llllUlIl I ILI I N VEN TOR BYfiJ f; a 7

ATTORNEYS 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 fllllllllll INVENTOR ATT NEYS Jan. 13, 1953 R. H. TURNER 2,625,259

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOH X. i,

BYz a W ATTO EYS Jan. 13, 1953 R..H. TURNER swc CASTING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 f 7 INVENTOR n E M m T A W Jan. 13, 1953 R. H. TURNER SLUG CASTING MACHINE 1s sheets-sneak Filed Aug. 2, 1945 5 I 33 m H W w N w .6 E6 0 ow km N INVENTOR B M ATT NEYS Jan. 13, 1953 R. H. TURNER 2,625,259

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Jan. 13, 1953 R. H. TURNER SLUG CASTING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 7Q pq INVENTOR B mm M @2294 ATTO BY I l n e n m g m E I u Q m m 9 i m l m M i w m Q m E a m .n. 5 KM KN NQ: mm w x? NAN M Q WW I I E; Hl ll W N 2E H H: \N NE ll WHII f w\ a n w i; Q s m B E u n m r m 1 R NHL $19K 3 Q Sw m m Jan. ,13, 1953 R. H. TURNER SLUG CASTING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 INVENTOR nu muulnammlz-m Jan. 13, 1953 R. H. TURNER SLUG CASTING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 IN VEN TOR fl .4 flww ATT RNEYg AH F W Jan. 13, 1953 R. H. TURNER SLUG CASTING MACHINE 13 SheetsSheet 11 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 R O M W W.

v'n' E R M O T m A Jan. 13, 1953 FiLd Aug. 2, 1945 R. H. TURNER SLUG CASTING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 ATTOKEYS Jan. 13, 1953 R. H. TURNER SLUG CASTING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Aug. 2, 1945 N R T T A M Patented Jan. 13, 1953 SLUG CASTING MAOHIN E Ransom H. Turner, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application August 2, 1945, Serial No. 608,406

6 Claims.

This invention is directed specifically to certain improvements in the slug casting machine shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 464,011, filed October 31, 1942, now Patent No. 2,542,599, dated February 20, 1951.

In that machine, a single slotted mold of less than standard height is employed, and the matrices, whose characters range in size from 6 pt. to 72 pt., are formed in their casting edges with routing notches of a depth to compensate for the reduced height of the mold so that slugs cast therein will be of the required type height." The width of the mold cavity is 12 pt. and the slugs produced therein from matrix characters of greater point sizes will be of the L-shaped or T-shaped variety, their overhanging type bearing portions being cast in the routing notches of the matrices. The metal pot is stationary and, when the machine is at rest, the moldoccupies a position directly in front of the mouthpiece of the pot in casting relation thereto. The matrices are composed in a hand stick and, prior to the inauguration of a machine cycle, the hand stick with its composed line of matrices ispushed endwise into a receptacle wherein the matrix line is located properly with reference to the end walls of the mold slot. The receptacle is slidably mounted in a reciprocable wedge block by which it is moved downwardly and upwardly to carry the matrix line to and from the casting position, and means are employed to arrest the receptacle at difierent predetermined levels so as to locate the matrix characters of different point sizes in the proper position transversely of the mold slot. When the machine cycle is inaugurated, the wedge block is pulled downwardly by spring tension to force the line receptacle and mold rearwardly in efiecting the necessary lock-up preparatory to the descent of the pot plunger; and, after the casting operation, the wedge block is raised to its original position to move the receptacle forwardly and disengage the matrix line from the mold and also, through certain auxiliary connections, to move the mold forwardly out of contact with the pot mouthpiece. As the machine cycle continues, the line receptacle is raised "and the mold swung forwardly and downwardly to a horizontal position of rest upon a fixed support where, first, the base of the slug is trimmed by a horizontally reciprocable knife and,

then, the slug is ejected from the mold by the operation of a vertically reciprocable ejector blade. Thereafter, and as the machine cycle is completed, the -mold is swung back to its original position in front of the mouthpiece of the metal not. r ady for the ne t cast ng operation Referring to the present improvements: The mold, wedge block, pot plunger and ejector blade are all operated pneumatically-under the control of an air valve manifold and a set of timing cams associated therewith. As another departure, the ejector slide is operable through the medium of a pair of toggle devices which carry the ejector blade and are adapted,.prior to the activ stroke of the slide, to advance the blade relatively thereto so as to increase the initial pressure exerted upon the base of the slug in breaking its adherence to the side walls of the mold cavity. As still another departure, after-the casting of the slug,'the mold is movable vertically downward in its own plane in order to shorten the radius of its swinging movements and thus permit it to clear the line receptacle which,in the present'instanc'e, remains permanently 'at the casting level. As a result of this particular improvement, the automatic means for raising and lowering the receptacle have been dispensed with entirely and the wedge block has been given a much better support during the casting operation. As afurther departure, there are employedseveral safety devices connected directly to aspecially constructed control device for the main driving clutch and functioning to cause a disengagement of the clutch, and

thus stop the operation of the machine, under certain abnormaljcondition's that may arise duringamachine cycle. i c

The details of construction, and the manner in which the parts cooperate tobring about the results desired, will best be understood from the description to follow. v r

. Inthe accompanying drawings, the improvements have been shown merely in preferred .form and by way of exam le, andtherefore it should be understood that the invention involvedis not limited toany 'specificform or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are, specified in the appended claims. i

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine, partly broken away to show the driving and control mechanisms; 1,

Fig.2 is a front elevation, also broken away, to show the manual control connections;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section-through the metal pot taken on the line 4-'--4 of Fig. 3 andshowing certain movable parts associated with the pot in their normal position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section sirnilar-to Fig. 4 but showing the m vable-part in a different position;

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 6-45 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the casting and ejecting mechanisms;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. '7

Fig. 9 is a detail face view of'thezadjusting devices for the hand stick receptacle;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, showing part of the casting mechanism in the lock-up position and also part of the operating means for the wedge block and the mold;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing the wedge block raised and also the means through which the safety attachments for the .mold-and hand stick are controlled;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the line i2-l2 of Fig. 11, showing the hand stick in proper position in the receptacle;

Fig. 13 is a-detail vertical section taken-onthe line Iii-l3 of Fig- 11;

Fig. 14 is an elevation similar to Fig. 10 but showing the mold-after being'lowered from the casting station and'the operating means therefor;

Fig. 15 is anelevation similar to the lower portion of Fig. 14 but showing the mold swung to its horizontal position in rear of the ejecting station;

Fig. 3.6 isan elevation similar to Fig. 15 but showing the mold "advanced to the ejecting stati'on;

Fig. V1'? is a 'detailvertical section taken on the line l"i-il o'fFig. 15;

"Fig. 18 is a "front elevation of the ejecting mechanism, showing'by the "full lines the'parts in their normal position :and by the dotted lines the toggle connections "between the ejector slide and ejector blade straightened out "to advance the blade relativelyto the slide;

Fig. 19 is a :front elevation-similar to Fig. 18 but showing the relative position of the parts during the ejection of "the slug from-the mold;

Fig."20 is a horizontal sectionitaken on the line 20- 20 of-Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a face view, .on an enlarged "sc'ale of the control device for the main driving clutch and parts associated therewith;

.Fig. '22 isfa'vertical 'secti'on taken "on the line 2222 of;Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a horizontal 'section taken on the line 23-23 of Fig. 21;

.Fig. 24 is a detail "fragmentary elevation showing the means controlling th'e'sa'fetyattachment for the wedge block;

Fig. 25 Lisaplan View, partly'insection, of the starting and stopping mechanism andthe pneumatic control devices; and

Fig. 26 is a time chart indicating the order in which the various organs'and safety attachments of the-machine are intended'to function during acycle of operation.

The matrices X and the'hand-stick Y "(Fig 12) are similar 'tothose usedin the machineshown and described in my co-pending:applicationpreviously identified, the matrices being formed with relatively deep routing matches :2: which .extend completely across ltheir oasting :edges, and the hand stick comprising, generally, :the two upper and lower side members Yi, iY- rand the two end The matrix ;characters a: rare punched in "the'bottoms of'themouting notches and, irrespective of their point size, are positioned for base alignment with reference. to a common datum line when the matrices are supported by their lower edges. The lower side member Y of the hand stick is formed with a guide rail 3 adapted to engage corresponding notches formed in the lower edges of the matrices, and the upper side member Y is provided with a matrix aligning bar (not shown) attached thereto in such manner that when moved endwise in opposite directions it will be cammed downwardly and upwardly into and out of engagement with the upper edges of the matrices.

The hand stick also includes a pair of abutments or banking blocks Y Y arranged respectivelyadjacent the end walls Y Y and, like the matrices, notched in their lower edges to engage the guiderail y. The abutment Y is appropriately connected to the free end of a clamping screw Y mounted in the end wall Y whereas the abutment Y at its upper end is attached to the aligning bar and normally held yieldingly in spaced relation to the end wall Y by a compression spring 3/ so .asto be capable of sufficient lost motion to actuate said bar. After a matrix line is completely composed in the'hand stick, it is shifted to the right (Fig. .12), against the influence of the spring 11 by means of the clamping screw and thereby locked in place between the abutments Y and Y as the latter banks against the end wall Y the aligning bar at the same time being forced down into engagement with the matrices to effect their alignment upon the guide rail 1 The hand stick with '"its composed line of matrices now is pushed en'dwisefrom the right '(Fig. 3) into a horizontallydisposed channel or receptacle A and up against-a fixed stop cawhere it is held in place by a retaining detent a mounted in the receptacle and adapted'to engage a corresponding recess-' formed in the upperiside wall o'f'the hand stick. The receptacle -A (Fig. 14) is arranged directly "in front of a moldB and mounted by tongue and-groove connections a in a reciprocable wedge block or clamping member C, so as'to be capable of vertical adjustment relatively thereto in'locating the matrix characters of difierentpoint sizes in the proper castingpcsitions transversely of the mold slot.

The vertical adjustmentsof the receptacle A are effected by the partial rotation of a rock shaft A (Fig. '8), mounted at its opposite ends in the opposed side members D, D of a fixed U- shaped bracket D,'and equipped with a pair of spaced-apart cam elements (1 upon which "the "receptacle is supported. 'To insure perfect control of thereceptacle bysai-d-e1ements at all times,

it is held-yieldingly upon the same'by an overlying'spring actuated lever A pivotally mounted in .a small 'subsid'iary'bra'cket d fastened to "the side member D of the'largerbracket D. As shown best ,in'Figs. 3 and I3, the'lever A include a relatively long horizontally disposed arm A and a shorter ofiset'vertical arm Afithe former being provided with-an anti-friction roller a engaging the upper-edgeof thereceptacle, and the arm A being opposed to a compression spring a seated in a recess d formed transversely 'in the bracket member D Operation of the rock shaft A is controlled manually from a turn'ingknob or h-andleEgand the corresponding adjustments of the receptacle .A .are accurately determined by a circular dial plate E having appropriate markings adapted to be readin conjunction-with a: pointer is] fastened to the other:side member of the U-shaped bracket Both *the knob E and dial plate 'E are secured to a small stub shaft E which is rotatably mounted in-the bracket member D and operatively connected with the rock shaft A through a pair of small spur gears e. A spring plunger or detent e also mounted in the bracket member D and arranged to engage one or another of a series of properly spaced-apart apertures or recesses formed in the dial plate, prevents accidental displacement of the latter and, through the intervening connections, maintains the adjusting cam elements in their different angular positions.

The clamping member or wedge block C (Figs. 3 and 10) includes a horizontal body portion C and a pair of integral end plates C which latter extend above the body portion and are formed with tongues c inclined slightly rearward from top to bottom and engaging corresponding grooves (1 formed in the opposed side member-s D and D of the bracket D. The rear vertical face of the wedge block fits against the vertical front wall of the receptacle A, while the front face thereof is inclined at the same angle as that of the tongues so as to have a sliding fit with a, corresponding inclined surface (1 formed on the rigid cross member D of the bracket D. The side members D D of the bracket D (Figs. 1 and 3) extend forwardly from a metal pot F in the vicinity of the mouthpiece F thereof and are bolted to the pot casing F which in turn is rigidly supported upon a flat top plate 0 of the machine frame.

At the start of a machine cycle, the wedge block C is moved downwardly and forces the receptacle A rearwardly across the supporting cam elements a to press the matrix line againt the mold B and at the same time squeeze the latter against the mouthpiece of the metal pot F in effecting a positive lock-up preparatory to the casting operation. Conversely, upon the upward or return 2 movement of the wedge block which takes place immediately after the casting operation, the mold and mouthpiece F will be relieved of the lock-up pressure and the receptacle will be pulled forwardly to its normal position to carry the matrix line out of contact with the face of the mold. To conserve time between cycles, the hand stick, if desired, now may be removed from the machine and another one substituted therefor before the cycle is completed. It may also be mentioned at this point, and as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, that the mouthpiece of the metal pot F, like the one shown in my copending application, is supported independently of the pot by lugs d projecting inwardly from the side members D and D of the bracket'D, so that the pressure created by the casting operation will be absorbed entirely by said bracket between the lugs at the rear and the cross member D at the front and, therefore, may be as great as the tensile strength of the bracket will permit.

Operation of the wedge block C (Figs. 3, 10 and 11) is effected from a vertically movable, pneumatically controlled rack bar C through a horizontal shaft C and a pair of gear wheels C which latter are mounted on the shaft and are arranged in mesh with corresponding sets of rack teeth 0 formed on the end plates (1 of the wedge block. The shaft C (Fig. 3) is journaled in spaced-apart bearing blocks d 11 of the bracket D and is provided with a driving pinion C meshing with the rack bar C The operating means for the rackbarC include an air cylinder C arranged abovethe driving pinionC and supported by a bracket plate-D secured toone'of 1=a crank arms B pair of integral flanges D D projecting forwardly from the crossmember D of the U- shaped bracket D. A-double acting piston C is mounted in the cylinder 0, and the rack bar C (Figs. 10 and 11) is formed integrally with the piston rod, the latter projecting downwardly through the lower end of the cylinder and being properly guidedin a fixed bearing bracket al located adjacent the pinion C The piston C is controlled by an adjustable two-way slide valve C (Fig. 25) which is one of several comprising a manifold R and which is adapted to admit air under pressure through separate pipe lines 0 and a into the bottom and top of the cylinder to move the piston C upwardly and downwardly, respectively. The'manifold R, is arranged alongside the main shaft S below the'top plate 0 and includes, generally, a body portion R and a cap portion R the former being secured by side flanges R to stationary brackets 0 O? ofthe machine frame, and the cap portion being formed with a chamber B into which air from a pressure tank R (Fig. 1) is admitted through a supply pipe R and di rooted to the pipe line 0 'o'rc according to the adjusted position of the slide valve C As air enters one end of the cylinder 0 it is exhausted from the other through a recess in the valve and a communicating exhaust passage (not shown) formed in the body portion of the manifold. The construction of the manifold R and slide valves is similar to that fully shown and described in the patent to J. C(Plastaras No. 2,340,342, so that any further description here would be superfluous.

The mold B (Figs '7, 8 and 14 to 16 inclusive) is detachably fastened to the cross member of a bail-like support B and is capable of vertical movement to and from its normal position in guideways d formed in the side members of the bracket D and adapted to accommodate corresponding tongues b projecting from'the opposite ends of the mold. The side arms B of the support B depend from the cross member B thereof and are connected with an underlying shaft B through the medium of a pair of toggle devices B each comprising a crank arm 13 keyed to the said shaft and a link 3'' attached to the contiguous side arm-B at a point adjacent the cross member B The shaft B (Figs. 8 and 14) is mounted in a fixed stand bracket D and is rotatable by means of a spur g'ear'-B 'fastened thereon and arranged midway between the two As shownbest iri'Figs'. 7 and 8, the bracket D rises from the top plate 0 of the machine frame and is adapted to'give additional support to the bracket D through a rigid cross bar D fastened to the lower edges of the flanges D D For reasons about to appear, the side arms B of the mold support are formed with elongated slots b engaging corresponding fulcrum studs (1 which are axially aligned with the shaft B and project inwardly from the op-,

'posite side members of the U-shaped bracket D.

The toggle devices B also include a pair of relatively strong spring detents .17 attached to the lower ends of the links 13 and'normally engaged tongues 17 clear-the lower'endsof the, guidcways dkandithe .npper'endszofithe vertical slots b of the'mold supportengage the fulcrumtstuds 11*. Meanwhile, the idetents 12 as a'result of the collapsing-"of .the toggleafirst will be forcibly disengaged from the slots b and then caused to engage them again at points below the fulcrum studs, so that'the toggles mayregain their control over the movements of the mold. As the shaft B continues its rotation the mold, through the connecting detents, will 'be swung by the toggles forwardly-and downwardly from its verticahbositionshown in :Fig. 14 to the horizontal position showninz-Fig. '15. Then, as the toggles are straightened out, the mold will be moved directly forward to the ejecting station, where the slug is pushed out-of the mold by the operation of a verticallyreciprocable ejector slide G'ftFig l6) Thereafter, therotation of the shaft B is rreversed and, through the same connections,?the mold first will be withdrawn from the ejecting station, then swung upwardly and rearw'ardly to register its tongues with the vertical guideways d3,-'andfinally restored to the casting station in front of the potmouthpiece F The mold is :arrested inthe horizontal position shown in Fig. 15 by its engagement with a;pair of small a'ngleplates d projecting rearwardly from the rigid cross bar D and serving to locate the-tongues b of the mold in engaging relation to corresponding 'fore-and-aft grooves ti l, thelatter being formed in the front flanges D D 'of the main'bracket ID and adapted to guide'the mold inits movements to and from the fejecting station. During the'forward movement of the mold, the base of a slug cast therein istrimmed byta stationary-knife H; and when the mold stops in theejecting position (Figs 16 and 18') ,it will beproperly located and supported between the flanges D D upon the cross bar D The knife H (Figs 7 and is secured to the lower end of the bracket D "and is capable o'felimited adjustment, toward and from the mold B, by a pair of 'set screws h arranged at the opposite ends of the knife.

"Rotation iof-the'shaft B (see Figs. '7 and 8) is effected by the operation of a reciprocable pneumatically controlled rack bar B through an intermediate shaft 28 and two multiplying gears B and B mounted thereon. The shaft B is Jjournaled in the stand bracket D (before referred to) and-arranged directly below the shaft .BtythegeanB meshing with the rack bar B Land the ;;gear B meshing with the spur gear B .As best shown in Fig. '7, the rack bar B is slidably mounted in suitable guideways 11 extending longitudinally of a horizontall -disposed for'e-and-aft 'air cylinder B which is arranged directly-behindthest'and bracket-D and secured to the main supportingplate 0. As indicated bythe dottedrlines in'Fig. 'l,'the cylinder B is "equipped-with'a .pistonB whose rod B extends :forwardlythrough and beyond the front endiwallof theoylinder, where it is appropriately fastened to .the "contiguous end of the rack bar B Operation of the piston B is controlled fromthamanifoldRby a two-way slide valve .B adapted, :at :the proper moments, to admit :airunder pressure 'throughpipe lines b E into the rear andffront ends of the cylinderB to move'the piston and attached rack bar forwardly andbaokwardly, respectively. In this way, the sh'aft-'B is:rotated i'nop'posite directions and the .mold shifted: tofiand lfrom the casting and ej ectii'ng stations in iithe manner ;i already .described.

The reciprocable eject'or slide G (Figs. 18 to said lever to one" end of the :bar (3- the slug ejecting operation.

20 inclusive) is arranged between the two front flanges D D -of t-he bracekt;b and is formed with a pair of vertically-disposed-side members G which latter are connectedtogether: by an integral offset web portion G and provided with tongues 9 extending longitudinally thereof and engaging in correspondinggrooves-or guideways d formed in said flanges. The ejector slide G is equipped, as usual, with an ejector blade G but, according to the-present invention, the blade instead of being-attacheddirectly to the slide is carried by a horizontal subsidiary slide bar G the latter (Fig. 20) being arrangedbetween the vertical side members G 'of the-ejector slide and connected'thereto by tongues-and grooves 91 in order to be capable of adimited vertical movement in relation -to v the slide.

In the preferredembodiment illustrated (see also Fig. 7), the slide bar G" is operated by a pair of pneumatically controlled toggle devices G each comprising lever =9 and a link 9 the former being pivoted to the upper end of the contiguous sidemem-ber G of the ejector slide, and thelatter connecting the shorter armof An adjustable banking screw 9?, arranged to engage the upper edge of the web portion (3- limits the upward movement of the ejector slide, and a lug g projecting forwardly from the web and overlying the bar (3- limits the upward movement of the bar and thus locates the ejector blade in its normal or slug ejecting position (Fig. 18). The longer horizontal arms of the toggle levers p ers-appropriately connected with the stem-of a piston-Ci which is mounted in an upright air cylinder G secured to the main biacketDand"arranged directly above the ejector slide G.

Operation of the-piston G is-controlled from the manifold Pu through a slide guide (3- and air lines o'", 57 leading from the manifold to the opposite ends of the cylinder G Normally, air pressure in the bottom 'of thecylinder sustains the ejector slide'through the mediumof the bar G and toggle devices G (now partially coliapsed) in itsraised positionshcwn in Fig. 18,

with said bar engaging the lug g and with the web portion of the slide engaging the banking 'ECIEW g -HOW6V81, as 30011 as the all pressure is reversed to the top of the cylinder through the pipe line g", the toggle devices G will be straightened out-and force'the ejector blade G3 downwardly faiwenough to overcome the initial resistance presented to the blade atthe start of As the toggles are straightened "out, the shorter arms of the levers o are ,adapted :to bani: against the contiguous side member-sofr-theejector slide G and thereby establisha positive'connection between the slide and the pistonG eo-that the latter by its continued downward movement may impart a full activestroke to-the ejector blade for the cornplete-ejectionaof the slug from the mold. As a slug is ejected, itpasses through an elongated clearance aperture (Z formed in the'rigid cross In rising, the [piston G will first collapse the toggle ESlifilCiGllfilY :to raise Ethe subsidiary slide bar G .:into-sengagement with :the projecting lug :g "of itheweb "G and then, 'as it continues 'its 9. upward movement, restore the ejector slide to its original position against the banking screw g The use of toggle devices for imparting the initial stroke to the ejector blade is particularly advantageous when, as herein, the blade is operated pneumatically. As well understood in the art, the greatest pressure which the ejector blade must exert is at the start of the slug ejectin operation when it is called upon to break the adhesion of the slug with the mold; thereafter, the resistance offered by the slug is much less and little more than isrequired for the slug trimming operation. It is evident, therefore, that a much smaller pneumatic piston may be used with the toggle devices than without them.

Reference is now directed to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5 which illustrate the mechanism controlling the operation of the pumpplunger during the casting period. The plunger F is mounted, as usual, to reciprocate in a well F of the pot crucible and is operated pneumatically by an overhead double acting piston F to which it is connected by a vertical link f arranged between the plunger and a block f attached to the lower end of the piston rod. The piston F (Fig. 4) is mounted in an upright air cylinder F and controlled from the manifold R by a two-way slide valve F adapted to admit air under pressure through pipe lines i i into the top and bottom of the cylinder to operate the piston. As-best shown in Figs. 4 and '7, the cylinder F is supported upon the horizontal cross member of a bail-shaped bracket F rising from the pot casing; and at its opposite ends the cylinder is closed by caps f P, the lower cap f being drilled transversely to accommodate the piston rod and the usual gland i for the necessary air-tight connection. In order that a maximum pressure may be created in the top of the cylinder preparatory to the metal injecting operation, the piston F is positively sustained in its raised-position (Fig. 4) by a retractible latch pin F slidably mounted in a fixed bracket F for a limited endwise movement into and out of the path of a tooth or lug f formed on the block f of the piston rod. Retraction of the latch pin F2 to release the piston is effected, in opposition to a pull spring I, by the partial rotation of a short fore-and-aft rock shaft F journaled in a small bearing bracket F and provided with a vertical arm F connected to the latch pin through an intermediate horizontal link F. A tit screw f threaded into the bracket F and engaging a corresponding slot formed in the latch pin, holds it against angular displacement and insures its proper engagement with the lug f. The rock shaft F is also provided with a depending crank arm F operable by the upper arm of a vertically disposed lever F (Fig. 1) pivoted midway between its ends in the machine frame and controlled by an edge cam S which ismounted on the main shaft S and arranged to engagean anti-friction roller I carried by the lower armof said lever. When the pump plunger F descends'under the pressure created. above the piston F molten metal from the pot throat will be forced into the mold from the rear and up against the composed lineof matrices at the front, the extent of the downward movement of the plunger being determined by the volume of metal itv displaces in filling the mold and the routing notches of the matrices as well as the slight air space existing in the throat in the vicinity ofthe mouthpiece Fl. However, it is important that the plunger :be allowed topartake of its full active stroke before the lock-up pressure is relieved. For this purpose, the pot crucible is equipped with a pressure release valve I of thefluted variety (Figs. 4 and 5) for controlling a port located between the pot well and the crucible and through which the molten metal in the throat and crucible is maintained at a common level. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the port i is formed in the upper wall of the pot well and the valve I is mounted therein for a limited verticalmovement. When the valve is pushed downwardly, a solid portion thereof is adapted to close the port but, when raised, the fluted section thereof allows the metal in the crucible to pass into the well and throat.

The means herein employed for operating the valve I include a small upright air cylinder I supported by the bracket F and equipped with a piston I which is connected with the valve by a long vertical link I Operation of the piston I like the other pistons previously described, is controlled from the manifold R by a two-way slide valve 1 adapted, in one position, :to admit air through a pipe line i into the bottom of the cylinder I to force the piston upwardly and, in the other position, to admit air through a pipe line i into the top of the cylinder to force the piston downwardly. The upward movement of the piston I is limited by a collar i on the piston rod, and the downward movement thereof is limited :by the engagement of the top ofthe pressure release valve with the upper wall of the pot well. The movements of the controlling slide valve I are so timed that, just before the latch pin F is Withdrawn to release the pump piston F the piston I will'descend to close the valve I and thus permit metal in the throat of the pot to be projected into the mold under the maximum pressure and speed by the initial drop of the pump plunger F The piston I then rises to open the valve I and permit the plunger to complete its active stroke, the air pressure in the bottom of the cylinder I being maintained to keep the valve open throughout the rest of the cycle. e

Referring now to Fig. 25, each of the several slide valves of the manifold R is connected by an intervening rocker arm R to one of a corresponding number of bell-crank levers R mounted on a common pivot rod r and arranged between the side flanges R of the manifold. The levers R are equipped with anti-friction rollers r and are operable by a set of timing cams S keyed to the main shaft S and engaging the rollers r While the cams S have not been shown in detail, it readily will be understood that they will vary in form so as to actuate the slide valves at the proper moment during the machine cycle to charge the individual air cylinders with which they are connected and thus bring about the operation of the different organs of the machine in their proper order or sequence.

The driving mechanism and control devices of the improved machine will now be described, reference being made to Figs. 21 to 25 inclusive. The cam shaft .S- is mounted at its opposite ends in stationary bearing brackets 0 O of the machine frame and receives its motion from a, hollow fore-and-aft drive shaft J through the medium of'a friction clutch K and a train of reducing gears, the latter including, generally, a largegear J mounted to rotate on a fixed stub shaft J and meshing with a driving pinion J a small gear J secured to the hub of the gear J and a larger gear J keyed to the cam shaft S and meshing with the gear J. The clutch K (Fig. 25) comprises two opposing members K and K the former being integral with a motor driven wheel K 'mountedto rotateon the drive shaft J, and the latter beingsplined; to the rear end of said shaft and attached-to a push rod K which is mounted in the drive shaft and movable endwise therein to carry the clutch member K into and out of engagement with the clutch member K The engagementv of the clutch members is efiected by a compression spring K seatedin the shaft-J behind a collar k of the push rod K and the disengagement thereof is, effected'by a lever J having one of its arms engaging the front end of the push rod; The lever J (Fig. 25) is pivoted between its ends in a fixed bracket J and is operable by a clutch control device L mounted on the camshaft, Sand arranged alongside the other arm of said'lever.

In the present instance, the device L (as will be noted in Figs 2land 22') includes a straight member L splined to the shaft 5 for axial movement thereon, and a second disk-like member L? rotatably mounted on said shaft, The member L is adapted to be driven by; the member L through themedium of two'pairs of opposed cam plates Z 1 arranged diametrically opposite each other and held yieldinglytogether by the lever J under the influence of the clutch springK To sustain the member L against axial-movement by the spring K the control device Is further ini cludesa circular frame plateL supported on the shaft S and held rigidly against angular displacement by an integral projectingear Z bolted to the machineframe. Atone side, the plate L is formed with a hub portion 1 which banks against the contiguous end bearing for theshaft S, and at its opposite side, it engages a narrow spacing hub Z of the member L The two members L and L of the device L are also capable of a limited rotary vmovement in relation to each other as permitted by a pin-and-slot connection Z and a pull spring I (Fig; 2 1) anchored to the member L and connected to the member L tends constantly to turn the latter counterclockwise within the limitations allowed by said connection.

When the machine is in motion, the member L will rotate with. the drivingmemberL but, if the rotation of the former should be arrested, the member Ll will be displaced axially by the cam plates L Z and, through the lever J i'cause a disengagement, of themain drivingclutch K At such times, the pull spring 2' will be extended, due to the slight rotary movement of the member L in relation to the member L?and will. later, when the member L? is, released, acttorestore the parts to their original relative position to permit a re-engagement oi theclutch.

In starting and; stopping the machine under normal conditions; the arresting means employed (Figs. 21 and 22) include a retractibleplunger M mounted in an offset Vertical housing portion L oi thev circular, platelfi andmovable. a, limited distance into and out of the path of a single tooth or lug Z formed. on the outer edge. of the clutch control member L Operation of the plunger M is controlled by a conveniently located crank handle. N and is efifected in opposition to a compression spring m arranged in the housing L- above a collar m of the plunger and reacting against a capor nut L screwed onto the housing. The handle N (Figs. 1 and 2) projects above the top plate 0 of. the machine frame through. a slot 0 therein and is attached at. its lower end toa horizontal rock shaft N disposed beneath the plate 0 and providedwithan arm N whichis connected with the plunger M through an intermediate verticallink N Whenthe machine is at rest, the parts are adapted to occupy the position shown in Figs. 21 and 25, with the tooth Z of the clutch control member L banking agaimt the lowerend of the plunger M, and with the member L div placed by the camplates Z 1 to effect the disengagement of the driving clutch K. However, to inaugurate a machine cycle, it is merely necessary to pull the crank handle N forwardly within the limitations of the slot 0, and then release it. Bythis operation, the plunger M is raised out of engagement with the tooth i and allowed to drop in behind it under the influence of its spring m, the member L of the device L meanwhile having been turned by the pull spring Z counterclockwise the slightdistance necessary to permit the engagement of themain clutch K. As the cycle is completed the tooth Z willagain engage the plunger M to stop the operation of the ma.- chine in the manner already described.

Itmay be desirable on'occasion, and for reasons unnecessary tomention, to stop the operation of the machine at anytime during the cycle and, to thisend, means operable independently of the automatic control device L are employed for disengaging the driving clutch K. Such means (Figs. '1 and 2)inc ludea pair of tog le links N operable by the crank handle N through a second arm N on the rock shaft N and a, vertical link N One of the links N is anchored to. a fixed projection o of the machine frame, While the other is attached to a slide block k mounted on thepush rod K -andlocated directly behind the collar 7c (see also 25). With this arrangement, by pushing the handle N rearwardly from its normalqor vertical position shown in Fig. 1, the togglewill be straightened out and, throughthe engagement of the block k with the collar is, the rod will be forced forwardly in position to the compression spring K and cause a disengagement of the drivingclutch K, thetog gle under such conditions serving to lock the. clutch out of action until it is again collapsed by restoring the handleN to its original position. To permit the operation of; the toggle N the vertical link N (Fig. 1) is formed with a slot n. so that the arm N which'controls the toggle, inay move relatively thereto, At this time it may also be stated forth-e sake of .clearness that, due to the sliding connection between the toggle and, the push rodK the former will present no interference to theoperation of the handle N and rock shaft N in raising andlowering the plunger M.

The improved machine also is equipped with a plurality of safety attachments associated with diiferent organs of-the machine, and all of, said attachments are connected, with the control de.-. vice L in such manneras to cause a disengage: ment of the main driving clutch K when any one of the organs fails to function properly.v In the preferredembodiment illustrated (Figs. 21, 22 and 23), the safety attachments, include, inpart, a plurality of 'retractible' stop pinsor plungers, numbered I to 6- inclusive, mounted in the fiked circular frame plate L and a corresponding plu-, rality of studs, numbered" i tofi inclusive, projecting laterally from the disk-like driven member L of the clutch control device L. The plungers to 6 are disposed-at diflfe rent radial distances from the center of th e plate-L fi andwhile the corresponding studsa'i a -to. fie -are similarly dis posed about .thememberm, they are spaced circumferentially from the plunger'sat varyin degrees (see Fig. 26') according to the operating time of the machine organs during a cycle.

Except for plunger I, the form and manner of mountingthe plungers I to 6 are identical, so that a description of one should sufiice for all. Thus, the plunger 4 (Fig. 22) is mounted transversely in the plate L and held yieldingly by a compression spring I in its active position, with one end protruding from the inner side face of the plate into the path of the stud 4. The spring I is arranged in a recess Z formed in a boss or lateral protuberance of the plate L and engages an integral collar 8 of the plunger, which banks against the bottom wall of the recess and locates the plunger in its active or protruding position. The retraction of the plunger 4 is effected through the medium of a Bowden wire 9 attached to the other end of the plunger and having its tubular covering Hl anchored in the customary way to the said protuberance by a hexagon clamping nut or cap 2 While the flange ll of the covering might serve as a seat for the spring'l, the latter (Fig. 22) preferably reacts against a spacing disk or ring 12 interposed between the flange and the end of the protuberance.

Operation of the plunger 4 is controlled by the mold B as it is moved in the manner previously described to and from the ejecting station, the means employed (see Figs. 7, 18 and 20) comprising a short' horizontal rock shaft I3 having two depending arms M- and I5, the former being equipped with an adjusting screw 16 disposed in the'path of the mold, and the latter being operatively connected to the plunger through the Bowden wire 9. If the mold properly reaches the ejecting'position, the plunger 4, by operation of the rock shaft, will be retracted out of the path of the stud 4*; otherwise, the plunger will remain undisturbed in its active position and cause a disengagement of the main clutch K by stopping the'rotation of the member 'L through its engagement with said stud. Danger of breakage or serious damage to the ejecting mechanism, the operation of which (Fig. 26) immediately follows the arrival of the mold at the ejecting station, is thus averted.

As the mold is restored to its vertical position of restin front of thepot mouthpiece F it is also adapted to control, in precisely the same way, the movements of the safety stop plunger 6 in order to 'stop'the operation of themachine and thus prevent a metal squirt, that likely would take place at the beginning'of the next cycle, through failureof the mold to attain such a position. Thus, the plunger 6 is connected by a Bowden wire ll- (Figs.'3 and 11) to an arm 18 projecting forwardly from one end of a rock shaft I3 arranged above the mouthpiece of the metal pot and mounted in a suitable bearing bracket 20. At its opposite end, the'rock shaft is provided with a second arm 2| equipped with an adjusting screw 22 disposed directly over and in the vertical path of the mold B. As the mold in rising approaches its uppermost'position, it will engage the adjusting screw 22 and,through the intermediate connections, withdraw the stop plunger "6 out of the path of the corresponding stud 6; and when the mold is lowered during the next cycle, it will break its engagement with said screw and permit the plunger, under the influence of its spring, to'res'ume its active position.

To avoid the production'of imperfect or porous slugs and the attendant difficulties. that likely would arise if the closingofthe'press'ure relief valve 1 failed ,to take place. before the drop" or the 1.4 pump plunger F there is employed (Figs. Land 5) a small bell-crank lever 33 controlledby the operation of the valve and having one of its arms connected by a Bowden wire 34 to the safety stop plunger 2. The lever 33 is pivotally mounted on "a fixed bracket 35 and is operable by a lug 2' projecting laterally from the upper extremity of the valve link I and which is arranged to engage the other arm of said lever. When the piston I descends toclose the valve, the lever will be actuated by the lug i and, through the Bowden wire 34, retract the plunger 2 from the path of the corresponding stud 2*. However, if for any reason the valve piston fails to function properly, the'clutchcontrol device L wll1 automatically stop the operation of the machine as the member L is arrested by the engagement of the stud 2 with the plunger 2.

similarly, the safety stop plunger 3 is controlled by the pump plunger F as it completes its downward or active stroke. In this case, the stop plunger 3 is connected by a Bowden wire 36 to one arm of a smal1 bell-crank lever 31 (Figs. 4 and 5) pivoted at the lower end of the latch pin bracket F and having its other arm disposed below and in the vertical path of the lug or tooth I previously referred to.- After the casting'of a slug and the pump plunger is allowed to descend to its lowermost position (see the dotted lines in Fig. 5), the tooth f is adapted to actuate the lever 3'! so as to withdraw the stop plunger 3 from the path of stud 3 but if the pump plunger should be arrested in its descent and the lever not be actuated, disengagement of the main clutch will be effected'by the engagement of the stud 3 with the stop plunger 3.

A safety attachment is also provided for stopping the operation of the machine in the event the ejector slide is not raised high enough, after the slug ejecting operation, for the attached blade G to clear the mold B as the latter is with-drawn from the ejecting station. Said safety attachment (Figsa'l, 18 and 19) includes a small bell-crank lever 4| pivoted to the front guiding flange D of the U-shaped bracket D and having one of its arms connected through a Bow- ;den wire 42 to the retractible stop plunger 5 of the clutch control device L. Th other arm of the lever M is equipped with an adjusting screw 43 located above and in the vertical path of the contiguous upright side member G of the ejector slide G, so that the lever will be rocked in the proper direction-to retract the stop plunger 5 from the rotary path of the corresponding stud 5 as the slide G completes its upward movement. If, however, anything should interfere with the normal operation of the ejector slide,.the plunger 5 would remain in the path of the stud 5 and, by arresting the driven member L of the control device, cause disengagement of main clutch K before the mold B starts its retreat from the ejecting station. The excepted stop plunger I (Fig. 21) is mounted in a radially disposed housing L rising from the outer edge of the frame plate L and which is similar in form to the housing L for the plunger M. At its lower end, the plunger I is cut awayto present a squared off banking surface23 to one or the other of two studs l and l projecting laterally from the member L and which are located, respectively, at 30 and from said: banking surface as indicated in Fig. 21. Undernormal conditions, the plunger l islowered and raised twice'during a machine cyclettolocat'e aclearanc'e notch: 24, formed transversely inaits 

